Flow control system for washing machines



Filed July 30, 1940 5 Shets-Sheet 1 yer Nov. 23, 1943. H, MEYER ETAL 2,334,831

FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 30, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE TOR Henry A. Meyer FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM-FOR WASHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 30. 1940 7.. Q Q 3 v v w 1 m e m mw O .5 Z h u B n z m u m /'|l||| |l||||L O I. x mm 7 5 I. l l 8 INVEN OR Henry A. Meyer BY Arnold Erlanyer Hm 14m, M 6 ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1943. H. c. A. MEYER ETAL FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Ju1y30, 1940 5' Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENPR y rno r anyer J 3m ,Qj, Arromzs in N2 M mm '6 Nov. 23, 1943. H. c. A. MEYER ETAL FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 30, 1940 INVENTORS Hjlm'gzg. ltfleger BY THO 1 @2176? 6 W *M wmi ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 23, '7

' FLOW ooN'rnon' SYSTEM roe WASHING HenryC. A. Meyer, Syracuse, N.',Y.,'and Arabia Erlanger, Elizabeth, N. .L, assignorsgto United States Hoffman Machinery Corporation; New

York, N. Y.', a corporation of Delaware Application July 30; 1940, Serial No.348366 r p s v solaims, (Cl.221-- 1) This invention relates to flow'control systems, 1

and more particularly-to a system for'controlling apparatus] i i r It has heretofore been attempted to carry out the liquid supply towashing machines; or-lilre the washing cycle withwashing machines'having 1 various structural characteristics by various systems of continuous or semi continuous opinaintained at a predetermined level or levels and washing agents admitted as" desired. '1 During'such' operation the dump valve remains "eration; in which water or other treating liqp uids' were allowed to flow continuously through the: apparatus during allorcertainstagesf of a cycle which mightinclucle one or-more, sudsjing jand several rinsing stages, the wash liquid being closed until-the end of the cycle when washing,

rinsing; blue ingfetc. arecompletelyzfinishei During the first or sudsing period'oi op'eration the liquid. level inthe washer is usually maintained at a lowlevel (four or five inches} while du1'ing rinsing the liquid level is raised" to nine orten inches; The present systemof control of liquid flow is intended for use with washing ape "paratus in which an adjustable gate or weiris employed to limit the liquid level during-the low and high level periods of operationiand the "fiojw control comprises an electricalnetworkineluding devices appropriately conditioned to admit wash water or other treating-liquidconas for sudsing, until apredeterminedv uantity offliquid has been admitted to the washer; after which no-more liquid can enter the'washer until the gate is raised to the rinsing levelyexcept through the performance of certainfspecial "manipulations on thepart of the attendant in charge of the machinei Assoom however, as

the level controlling gate is changed to the high or rinsing level, certain devices areset in operation to admit'water or other liquid intermittently in successive charges of predetermined f quano tity until a desired predetermined number of A f such ,charges have; entered the "washer; after which the automatic system ceases to function" and additional liquid for rinsingmanonh' be added by further special acts of the attendant.

Oneof the objects of the'invention is to prowas an electrical control system of g the nature described,v comprising'means for integrating successive charges of liquid admitted to the washer d'uring' either the sudsingor rinsing period of ,jop.eration, and capable of changing the mode ofoperation of thesystem'according to a preld'etermined'plan j, 'l

simply and automatically to efiect the operation of a liquid admission valve toadmit liquid to the washer intermittently in successive charges of predetermined amount.

, "Afurther, object'is to provide means forman uallyinitiating a i iow; of liquid toxthe washer at such times the automatic system; isin operative and automaticallyto discontinue the flowa'fter acharge of predetermined quantity has been received by the' washer orother ap-- paratus. l

Other objects Willbe in p t envious or in? part 7 pointed; out hereinafterl- The invention accordingly consists inl tne features of construction; combinations of elements,

and arrangements of parts as will lie-hereinafter. described, and the: scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

"tinuously when the gateiis' setat the. lowlevel,

v of my invention- 7 a l the liquid supply of the washer; t. r Fig.5 i'sa' wiringdiagramn H 140 Similar reiere'rice characters refer 7 :parts throughout'the several views of the draw- V In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of thevarious possible embodiments Fig; lsis inpart a front elevation and in part aLcross-section through a washing machine adapted: for use with ,the present flow" control 1 system'rw i p i Fig. 2 is an end View of the machine as viewed from the leftin EigJ-l; e s t Fig. 3 in right end View; 7 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the piping for to j similar ings.

' .Referring to Fig.1, thew ashinQmachine will ,beseen} to have'ja ffoundation or frame member H0 comprising at, opposite ends upright pedestal members Hi and H2 in which are mounted =roller bearing assemblies H3; H4 which respecv ftivelyrotatably support the @trunnions I and H E :of the wash wheel 1 il Frame member I l 0 in the present embodiment is supported upon apair of spaced I -rbeams .118, I I9, themselves s supportedaupon any suitablerconcreteor other inundation {wo k I20, .112 L: The space I22 be-.

'tween the foundation-members serves as a trough the mode; of operation A further" objectis means, in a. control j Tumbling ribs'IS'I extend from end to-end f a" well known her inor sewer to receive and carry away waste wash water or other liquids from the wash wheel.

The wash wheel is imperforate throughout its length as regards its circumferential surface, and comprises a cylindrically formed through sheet I 25 which extends from a spider .me'mber I23 at the leftend 'to'a'spider member IE4 at the perforate plate I28 at the right-hand end of the machine, and a discharge space to receive such.

right end. Each of these "spider members is se--,, cured to and hermetically sealed with respeet to the interior of the cylinder'cI25 i-n any suit AtdtSQ,

able manner, as by welding or riveting. center, there is fastened to each of these spiders th corresponding trunnion member IISor I15. Covering the interior of the left end spider M3 and secured thereto is an imperfo'ratesheetwhichv forms a head I25, and spaced therefrom ariap-j propriate distance and securely fastened to the cylinder 525 is a second imperforate: plate or head I21, At the right end of the cylinder, secured to the inner side of the' spider I24 in a similar manner; is aperforate plate i223 which serves todischa-rge water from. the wash wheel,

will be hereinafter more fully described.

' I Extending through the left end'trunn'ion- H5 isfa' 'fluid inlet" pipe I29; closed at its inner end and "having its lower surface cut away to facilitateffthe discharge-of incoming wash water; or supplies downwardly into "the inlet chamber I 38, bctlve'en'the heads I26 an'd12'i.

' a the wash wheel and are of-us'ual'fo-rm' and construction. f At the left end each'of these tumbling ribs'passes' through the inner head or partition as by man er the-angle iron- I32. A similar angle'iron"I-33 secures each tumbling rib-to the partition I21 and serves to prevent escape of "to the vertical axis of the wash wheel.

I2! and extends 'to and-terminatesin abutment with theouter head "I2 5" to'which it isjoined,

-liquids fromtheinlet chamber ISO to the interior of the wash wheel except through the tumbling ribsthemselvesl' 1 r I The head sheet I28 at the right end of the "wash wheel'is perforate throughout, except where 'itcoversthe tumblingribs. Consequently no water can-flow directly through thetumblin'g-ribs to-the discharge-chamber at the right'end of themachine.

Each tumbling rib is provided at its left end the treatment spacewithin .the. wash wheel.-

.Referring to Figs. l and .2, itwill be seen that secured to the spider-123m; the left end of the machine thereis pr0videda; large spur gear IS! .with which ,meshes the pinion I321 of anchain .d iive leading to the electric motor I39. This motolpjas is usual in washing m'achines, is con- -trolled in its operation so as to drive first in one direction "and then in the opposite direction.

*witha plurality of large. openings I34 through .which liquids in the chamber I30 may rapidly "enter the ribs; -Each tumbling rib i further provided with a large number of smaller peri foratiorls 'I35'throug'h which the liquids entering the tumbling ribs may be rapidlydischargedinto This is accomplished automatically by means of type of controller, not shown fWef have seen that the liquids which include hot and cold -water,--steam,- and the various laundering "agents required in carrying out the washingpr'ocess, are all admitted .to the .inlet chamber 130 and through the ztumbling ribs terthe interiorof the treatmentchamber, by meansofthe pipe :I29 passing, through the hollow .trunnion 5 TI e D PecQnneQtiQnS to th si et e wi l;

be followed and described hereinafter.

, operations in the sliding gate.

Waste wash liquids; as mentioned above, are discharged from the wash wheel through the liquids is formed within a surrounding stationary head'niember; I45) comprising part of the' 'foundation casting" H2; Thisniem ber Ml! envelops the periphery of the wash wheel at its right end. Li-quid from'the wash wheel flows through the ---perforate plate 28. into the chamber I4! between {said plate and the'rigid head I40, and is prevented from leaking'out of the chamber MI by means of a rubber or other suitable sealing strip M2 'nialging resilient contact with an extended 7 portion of the perforate plate I28.

"Referring again to Fig. 1-, it will be seen that the stationary head I40 has a large opening I51 provided in its lower part centrally with respect This opening admits wasteliquids'to a projecting boxlike transition chamber I58 at thebottom,of '7 which is located adurnp valve I59 of anysuit able type, operable by means of a foot lleverTfl extending beyond thefoundationat the front'of the machine where it isfurnished with a pivoted dl 4 i The rear wall I'IZ of thev transition or dump chamber I53, as viewed in [1, isalso'fmo} videdwith acentral opening I13 of substantially the same height as the opening ISLbu't' of less widthQ Thisopening leads into an intermediate 5 chamber Ild included within a sheet metal nous; ing Iliisuitably secured to the rightharid'-wall e cha ber I531 [Free th owe f ih chamber m pipe I76.descends for afpurpoe explained hereinafter.

The outer or right-hand wall of the 'iritrrhdiateehambe 'll l comprises a guide I11, for/'9. sliding gate or weir I18.

It willbe understood that" the gate or weirl'ls servesto determinethe minimum level at which water or'other liquidsTmay' overflow and drain avvay from thejin t'errn'ediate' chamber andcori- 'seque ntly from the washfwheel. v This level, how- Referring to Figs. 1 2, 3L and 4, the p ttenections for-leading water and supplies tol'the hwhee efier l ad .we i i away r m the ultimate discharge chamber, and'efo r recirculating liquid between the intermediate chambenand the inlet, may nowbedescribedj A pipe I leads hot water to a miking valve I86. A sim ilar pipe- Itlleadsfcold waterto. the -same mixing valve. This mixingvalve' is bf ua well known type and nee'd not be describedjlit i being sufiieient to say thatit may be adjusted to rnix hot and cold water and deliver from its outlet water of any desired temperature fIts outlet,-shown at I88, is connected by meansbf a pipe. I89 through a registering watermeter Ato theinlet side-of. apiston operated valve ll9l,'the

outlet of which is connected by'means' ofa'pi'pe 7 I92 with the above mentfioned. inlet pipe [29. Pipe I92 isa'lso iconnectedby' means of api'pe 193 with the pipe I16 mentionedjabove.as belng connected with the intermediatephambef"I;

In the pipe l93'is a che'ckyalve I94 and the pipe I16 is connectedto the pipe-I93by means oian injector. fitting, lsh'connec'ted by me ns Oijaj pipe let an handi"opei'ated val e I95" with-afsteam 23G. Byrneans'o'r" the injeQtof'IQEQWhen desired,

overflow liquid frbrn the discharge .chamloerrnay' be forced through .the pipes 193 and I92 and the inlet pipe I29 intdthe' Washer and thus recirculation of the vlash liquid" advantageously efiected. A water pipe of small diameter indi cated by the number 2%; connects the hot" and cold water supply ironi a point located between the f lneter' A and the piston controlled valve Eel with-a hand operated valve 'Ztfliheiving an outlet disposed to discharge into the top of .the supply tank 29;; This pipe maybe used to sup ply a desired quantity of water to concentrated supplies in the tank or hopper" 2M; andualso may be used to rinse the hop er zs [after a Washing'agent of any kindjh'as been added to. the Was q -V 7 Q1. I Y f L Sur'mounting the piston'operated valve" 59E? is a iiuidpressure chamber containing apis'ton indi catd'by the teamma e-m r arita This valve is ncrmally'held closed against the pr ssure in supply pipe Bird-by means of fluidlpressureixerted upon. the upperfside of neonate; 'Liquids aie normally'dralivn off from th'eoverflow-or ultiinat'e discharge chamber of the washer by means of a pipe Zilhbestshowfi "in 3;.fwhi'chfldischarges into the sewer space I22. Inthispipe is a valve 2&1, adjustablabyhandl to control the charge chamber. i

rateoi :dischargef'of washliquid from the disis will bemore'l'fully' descri ed hereinafter, during the: rinsingfp'ortion oi the Washing cycle, rinse liquid'is intermittently admitted in aSuCCQST sive. amounts of say 30 gallons v each with timed intervals between chargeafthefiow of rinse liquid being measured and controlled by means. of the 5 meter "A. associated with thetimecontrel systemshown in the'wiring diagram, Fig, 5.,Ifhe piston chamber. of the valve Ifil is connected above the piston by means 0119 343" pipe ,lineiilil with the water sup-ply v pipefilifil, as by'me'ans of T 2&8, This /s pipe line contains a restriction valved IiLof wellknown type, which may be adjusted to,restrict the passage of-water from the supply pipe I89 to the piston valve I E I and thus control the fluid pressure.. exerted upon the piston 2%.. The pipe 299 is alsozconnec te'd;by means of a solenoid operated pilot valve. 2i I with a; pipe 2 i; discharging cfreely into the dump valve chamber I58, 'ihispilot. valveoperated by the solenoid D, as showninthewiring;diagram, either intentionally or automatically; controls the cpena .ing and closing fzthepiston valve IElI toypermit .or Lobstructthe supply of liquid toflthewashing machinepm a I Whenever thevpilotjvalvetil-is opened-bye? 7 citation of the solenoid D,theifiuid pressure'upon the ipperside of the. piston valve is released per.- mitting an immediate'fulliopening of saidpiston valve and a -constantl rapid flow ofliquid into the washer. A secondivalve2'l:3:.(norma1lyopen) l aesaear f i i 3 is; connected in? thepipe .2 I 2 and .operatively iconnected; by means of appropriate linkage to the dumpyalveleverl69.. The arrangement is such I that when the dump valve is closed, as itnormally. is, valve 2 I 3, is open so. that piston operated valve.-

I9I1 maybe-opened by the release of pressurein the"%.'- pipe line :through the operation of the solenoid valve 2. However,- when the dump valve is open and the wash water .or other liquid in the washer is being dischargedthereirom, accidental operation of the solenoid valve will: not

release the pressure from the piston operated valveto cause opening of the. supply pipe to the interior offlthe-washerrv I .As stated above, supplies such as soda,lbleach, blue, etc, are admitted by running the. desired quantityhito-the tank or hopperwh When 7 supply orrecirculation wateris not flowingto the inletj-pipe I2 9, a load of any Washing agent [contained hopper ZEII may be flushed into the inlet chamber. I36 of the was'h wheelby opening supply valve 2H2v and steam valve I99, a check valve 2l4 preventing; a flowjof water into .the

hopper fromany of .theother'connections to the supply pipe I253 Itwill thus be understood that the washing agents are admitted into the chamber I39 of the. wash wheel'during the intervals when water is not flowing thereinto from another source. These supplies, I withgthe water :,which flushes them into? the inlet chamber, are thoroughly mixed in that chamberso that when the chamber is next flooded with liquid from the supplypipeg-th washing agents are instantly carried through the tumbling ribs .to all parts of 35 the treating chamber and uniformly distributed.

throughout the latter; v

.I. While it isentirelyieasibleto operate the shell:

7 'less washer above described in theusual manner,

- admitting the supplies; and carrying out each I 40 operation of the cycle separately and opening the dump valve to relea'se each charge of Wash liquid-afterit has performed its function, it has been. found that greater economy results when the'machine is operated inconnection with the control system hereinafter described, whereby the desired amount of water for sudsing is rapidly admitted to the washer through the open supply valvelQI. The meter A measures each 30-ga1l0n charge passing therethrough and these charges are integrated until the desired quantity has been I passed, afterwhich no more water flows into the Washingchamber until it is desired to rinse,- at which time-water is admitted intermittently in 30-ga1loncharges by, operation of the automatic system disclosedin the diagram and hereinafter :fully described. I a y For a fuller description of the shell-less Washer itself, reference maybe had to the copending applicationfiled jointly by the presentinventor Meyer and: one Edwin F. Wesely, Serial No. 237,626 (now Patent No..2,286,429), I

While the present'system of control is particu larly desirable inrelation to the shell-less washer shown herewith, itwill be understood that such system isfully applicable to'a double shell washer o fthe standard type a New referringto Fig. 5, A indicates a water meter provided with a single pointer making one revolution for every thirty gallons ofwater passed and closing an electric circuit at contacts 'I--'8 for say 60 angular distance duringeach revolutionw I l B indicates a ratchet relay serving as ,anim pulse integrating device and provided with an 7 5 actuating magnet BI and reset magnet B2 having operations. V

pressing the reset button RS.

terminalst- -l Band I r 12; respectively. I Magnet- Bl is so connected in circuit with the meter cone tacts that every electrical impulsecausediby suc cessive bridging ofsaid contacts drives the-ratchet set to actuate their respective followers,'com.-.

prising spring contact members B6. andiBlf, after from 4 to 'T. impulses and-frm 24 to42 impulses respectively. Thus after a predetermined number of impulses, say 5, contacts l3i.4' are: closed,

and: afteranother predetermined number ofimpulses, say 24, contacts -46 arev broken and contacts l5-llareclosed. The coil. B2. having terminal connections lI-l'2 is providedto. reset the ratchet mechanism to itshoming position or a zero, at theeX-piration of the complete washing cycle, or at the beginning .of the next cycle .of

Resetting is accomplished bya-de- T indicates a conventional timing relaycomprising a synchronous motor TI and. a magnetic V clutch T2 which; when energized, causes the slow movement of a movable contact member t8 toward'anadjustable fixed contact-member I 9 whereby at the expiration of apredetermined and manually'set period-of time, contacts law-I9 are closed momentarily. Promptly thereafter the timing mechanism, as will i-be'explained hereine after,- automatical ly returns to itszero or homing position. a 1 i I D indicates the operating coil of the'solenoid,

pilot valve 2! l controlling taperationofwater Supmeter A into the washer; and whenthe pilot valveis closed the main valve'is'closed and the flow-of water ceases. v I

E; G and F indicate magnet relays of convention-al type. H indicates a standard commercial typedoor switch which; as-shown inFig. 3, is con- --nected with-the linkageby which the overflow weir or gate H8 is manipulated. Thearrange ment is such that when the gate occupies itslower positiontomaintain-liquid in the washer a't'the and contacts when the gate H8 is set for a high Orrin-sing level, contacts 22-23 will beclosedtrhdffi-ll open. 4 t

- Two colored signal lamps are shown,'one,'yel.- low, which is active when Contact [3-4415 made after the required number of gallons'of water for initial'sudsing have passed throughithe meter to thewasher, and the other, green, which is ac tive when contact lj5l "lis made after the predetermined quantits of water .forrinsing has passed the' meter. The latter signal indicates. the end'of the rinsing nedas .wnrbe understood from the following description of the manner-in which the various control instruments and-devices junction to control theoperation of the washer during a single continuous washing and rinsing cycle. I I 7 In operation this control system worksias fol-- lows:

- s'udsing" level, switch contacts 28 2"! are closed E2-'2-3 are open; and alternatively Sud'sing- Taiwan load: :hayin b rla d in the washer while theilatteris Stationary and the washer doors closed and locked; soap andalkali,

of proper constituency are placed infthe supply tankZSl; Thcs supplies arejthen ejected from the tan into the W her by opening he steam a v li'fi T rese ut n BS S d t s fltd return the"ratchet 'relaymechanism to its zero" v position; "The start button is depressed close 1 ing contacts 3 6. Currentfl'ows from power line Ll through wires a .and c to contact t'ofa'con ventional'jmagnetic starter JM. Current also flows from wire 0 through magnet coil Jto wire 1 and; out to the other side of the power' circuit L2. 'Starter contacts 5'&' are closed by energize: tion of J and maintained by the connection from 'L Ij through the normally closed 'stQp" button; wire 12, wire 0, coil -J'; and out.

' n will jbe understood that at this time relays E; F and Gare unexcite'd; that gate switch occupies the position indicated in the diagram andthat the ratchet mechanism stands at its zero position with contacts lj3:'l4 open and contacts i5i'6 closed." v V I I M indicates the driving motorfor thewash'er: Withthe closing of the magnetic starter circuit the circuit 'througnmotor M is completed. over wire d, wire f, and'0ut'to'L2 and rotation of, the washer commences. At the same time, current is fed'fro 'Ll through wires (1 and closed contacts 24-2-5 of relay F to coiljD'of'the pilotivalve 2H, the circuit being completed through wire m, contacts -21 of 'H, wire I, and; out to L2.

The pilot valve is thus opened, causing the main valve t9 I' to open wide and-Water to flow through the '3 line through the meter Ato thewasher wire e; coil 'B l, wire 7', closed contacts 25 .2'f 0i relay G, wire n, and out toLZ; 7

After a predetermined number of such impulses;

say 5; in which case-5 30= 150 gallons have been deliveredtot'newasher, contacts t3l-4 are closed by the contact arm 36, energizing wire g through the closed contacts -'l'8 of the meter and wire c. It will be'noted that wire g connects with contact 28- of relay G, with contact 30 of relayf E', and with, terminal 32' of the magnet coil El of relay.

Since relay G contacts 28in are closed, as shown, a circuit is completed through the yellow lamp" to line L2; Another circuit is completed throughthe'coil of relay G. The energizationof I I G opens contacts zi fi'l'an'd 28 -29 and closes contacts 33-3 4 -an d- 35-36, Closing contacts 33-34 completes a sustaining circuit from wire d through-the yellow lamp and the coil 01 G.

Thus relay {*1 remains in its excited condition and the yellow lamp reinai'ns' -on-to--theend of relay E', .wire :0, coil of relay-.F wi're m, contacts 3536 of relay G, and out to L2. Enerthrough coil Def .pilotvalve 2H, and stopp the flow of water-to the washer. Breaking of con tacts 228521 .at: this point" in the washing .cycle permits theadditioncfxsingle meter .chargesrcafl operation will be'describedrlate'rg cam B4 of the ratchetrelay is determined by the operation; ,At this pbin-tit should he rfefmemher'ed that'the load hasbeen initially w ttedfdowifj v by a mixture of soap and alkali in order that the 'clothes may be*quickly"andjeffectively attacked thereby; as distinguished frorn the fmethed ordinarily employed in conventjonalimachinesin whicl i'watcr'lis admitted first and th n-th'esupplies later! This method of ajtta'ckin'g 'the clothes the; likelihood. of setting stains and shortens the -respct to' the number of gallon *providedfli Also a smaller quan V "rrequiredfor eachisiicceeding suds'in'g.

' v 2554331 1 Lenses) of e im ror s aagtehoa exciting the impulse ratchet device aridthus-Without afiecting the number'of charges later made available for rinsing The addition ofrtheeesubsequent charges ofiwater are controlledby mm 5 mentarily closing the additional water switch indicated as AW on the-'wiringfdiagfam-.. This It should be;understood'thatYthesetting vof 1O amount of loadwhich'hasheen chargedto the washer sothat a satisfactory amountof free liquid (over and 'above the'amcnnt'required fcr ahscrption by the load) is provided iii'suflicient-quahtity to insure a good' substantial suds 'fbrjth'e sudsing i with'the soap and alkaliwater mixture reduces time "necessary by thefordinary method for supplies to'come into active-contact-with the load -Inother words, by'the present procedure the supplies are brought Wit-lithe water into 'instantaneo'us contact withthesoilzinthe lo'a'd. I

v The sudsingoperation may now he continued r "for as' -1ong as may he desired; *o'ein -g possible jas-hotedlabovej to add water atwiilfbf; simply closing the switchAW witlioutcaujsi 'ig' operation of" the" "ratchet relayp If'fa 'seco1id;sudsing is v thought desirable,"thefifi-gallon button istvitch' AW) is depressed, after firstc'peniiig the discharge soap andsoili Thfbuttonmay he depressedf as many as threeor four 'tirn'es jacccrding :to the 0 quantity 4 of soil 'observedinYtlie-discharge; in

order topro'long the flush. After the level within the machine has become normal; :the'dis'charge valve isclosed and another chargieof soap and";

alkali introduced in the 'sam manner-as before;

Any number or s'uch successivesudsingrstagesmay be -emplcyedandlvar-y fromjone' anothcr 'o'nly -iiushwaterh 1 i The purpose of this flushing-opera tainable by'the ordinary dumpin' method with a considerable savine of watei andsupplies.

In the-dumping method the wash load serves as a filter septuin'uponwhich the inscluloletsoilis-i'e deposited during dumping." Flushi g-as; described above prevents this redepcsit of soil." v

' Whenit has been decided thattsufiicientsuds ing has been ac'complished'and thatthe rinsing procedure may be initiated, the :operatcr raises the gate I18 by means of the lever i'iii tcthe desired-rinsing level. This cperatiom'by reason i of the inter-linka e cf the switch with' the gate operating mechanism, simultanecusly movcs the switch H to its lower or rinsirigpcsition, thus opening the circuit between an the wires hand :i at thecontacts 22+23; v

It will he -remembered that at the endfo'fthe normal admission of water for sudsing, contacts I3l4 of the ratchet relay, contacts 35-3E of frelay G and contacts 3i-38 of relay F arei'all closed,

and opt-10 L22 i V e 'thepredterminednumber of seconds 3- for which? the timer may have been' set; timer contactsfls l 9 will be ,closed and coil E11 0'! relay will become i excited by current flowing a circuit includingarneter contacts 1- 8,"

" After 'til the washer.

w-atentothe washer; the fmete'r will come with its arm:hridgingcontacts'1 8 Current, will now flow through prisingwvire "d; contacts 31-38 of relay F, wire e meter contacts-1+5 which remain "openfun- 0t valve 121.1 and the closed the coil Bi isfenergized. to give oneim 1 3 11 Of ratchet relay; wire 'fi'a'nd out 'to 1.12.: I

It'will be ul'iderstoodflofj course; that every irr'ipjulse of the ratchet relay drives "the cams p Be Q,I 1 B5"fOrWa1'dOI 1e step. CamBQ hasnu t!" I finished its-work and'does notjfurther effect'ia change of ijco ntajcts [3-144 --'1in'ti1' the end of the 1 washing operation whe'n theratchet,relavis resetw' However, arter' predetermined number of such impulses, say,=2l,'the cam B5 will break terminatingfthe automatic control 'of rinse water admissionand clos'ing'a circuit throughthe green lamp, This circuit includes wire d, green lamp,

"wire '1, contacts l5--I T, wire ,-and outxto L2.

. The lighting of the green lamp indicates to the operators. that the end of the i stagefi has been reached.

automatic rinse From theabove: it Will b e seenjthat the ate ingpf the gate by hand to the rinse level auto-- natically starts a period of continuous rinsing during wfriicl the timer first takes control to epent themain'fwater valve after a predeterv mined short interval of time. Then after the metahasmade one revoluticn themeter. takers controlto stop the wateiffio wiancl start the timerfor the reopening of the :inaini valve after t a a srnall time delaylj jThus the timer andthe' meter 1A alternately act" "intermittently to startand stop'water flowing through themeter into jand thatfcontactsl8 fwill also be closed becaus e, after the delivery of the last 30 -ga11on charge of t r s I p r the motor- TI' and; clutch "T2 of the timer Tover a circuit com mama of water through the nieterfh breaks.

i SO gallcri-hharge oi water has been passed to the washer; As} scones this isfaccompli'shed, -however,- mete eentaets II-45:8 are fagain closed "t'oji again excite 1"elayiF,= since-contacts 30 3! l "relay F deenergizes the" p! 'mainL-va'lve l9! acts ito cut on" water to the" washeri -Eachttime the meter contacts l -8 are ratche't mechanism; the energizing cirouit -c mprising 'contacts' l -fiy coil Bl,":wire1 a, contacts-22 2 3 'fof 'switcli I -I, contacts 15 1s:

I V v It will be understood also that at the time the gate isshiftedto the rinse "level itacts1=|5l6 of the ratchet relay. s l The ratchet relay'may-be returned to permit continuous discharge of the rinse water after'it has passed over thegate, I a

Mention has beenmade ot the possibility; o

manually admitting 3-0-gallon charg s o wate to-the washer at the endof the sudsing period; that is, after the ratchet relay has initially integrated apredetermined numberof successive ZiO-gallon charges to the washer to establish a,

body of water in the washer sufiicient ior suds- ;ing, Also that such additional sudsing charges are-not integrated bythe ratchet-relay. ;This

cpera'tion is as follows; it being understood that --at; .this time, ratchet-;relay contacts [3- 14 and r:5,"i6 .are,c1osed, momentarydepression oi the switchAVfcausescurrent to how through wire :c,-:oontacts.-=|3-l4, wire g, coil El, switch AW, 1W1Xfif; and out to L2. ;RelayE breaks, contacts 139 -3L,dcenergizing'relay-F, thus opening pilot valve El-l and main valve;205-120;start, a flow of water through themeter into the washer, The ;-s,witch{AW'can bcafimmediately released as a sustaining circuit for. relayE is completed by the closing of contacts (Iii-4|; A The ratchet relay ,ca'nnotoperate-since its circuit is broken at conetacts 26-41 of relayGr 'Assoonas meter contacts 1-8 arebroken :by rotation of the meter, :relayEisdeenergized and contacts 49 4 are .brolgen v and contacts: *3 il;,3 l l closed; However,

the circuit through relay F is open-becauseof- "the-o enmete o ac 8- o th t. he "P a I re ainsp enlm t e-m t ha 1 one' revolutiomwhen,-contacts -1-+-8 being again closed, relay, F "becomes aotive and cuts oil -currenttol theisolenoid' D of; the -pilot yalve. Although; during th-is -operation contacts ,3 i-38 "of relay Flare closed, .no current flows to the Ftiming, device since the return-circuit; of, the

letter, is open at; the contacts 22-l23 ofi the gate nwitchlllywhich is still-in its upper or sudsing -poSiti0n. I

V 1 :be admitted tothe washerin {do-gallon: charges" at the end of the automatic I -r'insing:sta-ge-by successive momentary manipulations of the additional water switch AW, with- (out integrating; the amount of additional water. H Also,- as f-beforathetimeriT will-notbecome acltive :with activation "of. relay F, since its}. return 51311101111 in this instancle, will be openat thecon- .its' zero "or homing position at anytime by closing the reset switch RS, since this operation closes a .circuit from L! to L2 through the reset coil'BZ iover wires 12, iandj. -;EnergizingcoilBZwith- :draws aspiring biased pawl 42 fromengagement with the ratchet-"wheel 43, which immediately 'c'oasts1to homingpositi-on through reaction of .spririgBB. r

,4 The ability to admit anyfnumbercr individual charges of 30 gallons of water,- after the'end of the automatic rinsing operation has been indicated by theillumination of the green lamp, is desirable because this hand operation facilitates treatment ofthe load with sour and blua'since these may be added by means of the supply tank "2'01 .and'allowed to remain in the washer as long jas may be deemed necessary, after which water may: be added for rinsing by'manual operation r the additional water switch AW.

' the discharge valve .201 is .manually opened to companying drawings is to be; 'nterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7 We claim:

- 1. A -flow control system for controlling the liquidysupplyto a washingv machine, or thelike which comprises a supply conduit, a supply valve in said conduit, a'meter for measuring the pas sage of successive charges ofliquid ofpredeteri mined amount through said conduit, a source of 1 electric energy, an; electric circuit closed lay means'asscciated with said meterafter the'passage oieach said predeterminedchar e oiliquid connected between terminals of said source, first and second relays having electrically operated actuating members operativel-yassociated with said meter controlled circuit,-acontrol circuit for saidsupply valve extending between terminals of said source including electrica1lyoperable means for operating said valve, an electrically operable timing device; operativelyassociated with, said valve control circuit, means associated with-said first relay for alternately causing operation of said valve operating 'means and said,

timing device, meansassociated'with said timing device alternatively with, said meter circuitclosing means controlling operation of said second relay, and 3 means associated withsaid second relay to control operation v,of said-.-first relay,"

wherebyliquid is supplied to said machine peri-,

0nd: electric circuit for supplyingcurrent to the actuatingmembers of first and-second interrelated relays, a meterforindicatingthe passage of a charge of liquid of,;predeterminedamount through said valve having means for making- ,and breaking said second circuit with the pas-, sa-ge-of each charge, a timing device made operable by, an operation of said first relay. connecting said timing devicewith. said valve operating;

circuit, control means for saidsecond relayrendered operative by operation of said timing .de-

vice, control means forsaid first relay rendered I operative by operation of said second relay, -an d Y control means ,forsaid valve operatingrneans rendered operable by a'reverse operation of-said first relay, whereby said control system effects controlof said supply valve to supplygliquid peri odically in successive charges of predetermined amount.v

3. An automatic electrical control system for controlling-the operation or a liquid supp y Valve to supply liquid periodically in successive charges of predetermined amount, which comprises in an electrical network, operating means for said valve connected in one portion'of said network and normally conditioned by'initial manual control to open said valve, a meter forindicating the passage of a charge of liquid of predetermined amount through said valve, an electrically operated timing device, a "relay operated circuit changer controlled conjcintly in another portion of said network by the operationof said meter and a-relay switch, and operable to cause" said valve operating means to.-close said. valve and simultaneously start operation of said timing of said valve, and terminating the operationof said timing device, and means associated with said meter adapted to energize said other portion of said network after the passage of each charge to effect operation of said c'ircuit changer, and to deenergize said network when said meter is again activated by flow through said valve.

4. An automatic electrical control system'for electrical network, operating; means for said valve normally conditioned by initial manual control to open said valve, a meter for indicating the passage'of a charge of liquid of predetermined amount through said valve, an electrically operated timing device, a relay operated circuit' 5. An automatic electrical control system for controlling'the operation of a liquid supply valve to supply liquid periodically in successive charges of predetermined amount, which comprises in an electrical network, operating means for said valve connected in one portion of said network and normally conditioned by initial manual control controlling the operation of a liquid supply valve to supply liquid periodically in successive charges of predetermined amounuwhich comprises in an 1 connected in one portion of said network and changer controlled conjointly in another portion,

of said network by the operation of said meter and a relay switch, and operable to cause said valve operating means to' close said valve and simultaneously start operation 1 of said timing device, contact means rendered operative by operation of said timing device to effect operation of said relay switch so as to render saidcircuit changer inoperative, and thus effecting opening of said valve and terminating the operation of said timing device, means associated with said meter adapted to energize said other portion of;

said network after the passage of each charge to efiect operation of said circuit changer, and to deenergize said network when said meter is again activated by flow through said valve, mechanism having operating means associated with and operable in response to each closing of the circuit controlling means of said meter tointegrate sucsuccessive charges passing said meter, means'op-fl erable in response to a predetermined number of successive operations of. the said mechanism to cessive charges passing said meter," and means" operable in response to a predetermined number of successive operations of the saidmechanism to render the automatic control system inopera-.

tive.

to open said valve, a meter for indicating the passage of a charge of liquid of predetermined amount through said valve, an electrically operated timing device, a relay operated circuit changer controlled conjointly in another portion of said network by the operationof said meter and a relay switch, and operable to cause said valve operating means to close said valve and simultaneously start operation of said timing device, contact means rendered operative by op eration of said timingdevice'to effect operation of said relay switch so as to render said circuit changer'inoperative, and thus efiecting opening of said valve and terminating the operation of said timing device, means asso-ciatedwith said meter adapted to energize saidother portion of said network after the passageof each charge to infect operation of said circuit changer, and to deenergize said network when said meter is again.

activated by flow through said valve, mechanism having operating means associatedwith and operable in response to each closing 'of the circuit controlling means of said meter to integrate 

